Skip to main content
Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Tags
Related Content
Topic
  • Ceremonies. Celebrations, Commemorations
Document Type
  • Bibliography
  • Photograph
  • Letter
  • Biography
  • Oral History
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
File Formats
  • Image (gif, jpg, tiff)
Location of Archival Materials

POW/MIA 

You Are Not Forgotten 


Paul Galanti

Lieutenant Paul Galanti, USN, sits in a cell at a prison camp near Hanoi. A team of journalists from the German Democratic republic (East Germany) took this and other photos of American Prisoners-of-war in North Vietnam in early 1967. Isolation of a POW is one method used to break down their resistance and morale. Copyright Owner: U.S.Information Agency. Catalog#: 70-2655.  


Code of Conduct

I. I am an American, fighting in the armed forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.

II. I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.

III. If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.

IV. If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way.

V. When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause.

VI. I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.

(Note: Established by Executive Order No. 10631 in 1955, the Code of Conduct has been amended twice throughout its history. The first was in 1977 by Executive Order 12017 and the second by Executive Order 12633 in 1988. The text above reflects those changes.)  


The POW/MIA Table: A place setting for one, A table for all

The POW/MIA Table: A place setting for one, A table for all. The tradition of setting a separate table in honor of our prisoners of war and missing comrades has been in place since the end of the Vietnam War. The manner in which this table is decorated is full of special symbols to help us remember our brothers and sisters in arms.


Published: Thu Feb 29 12:19:40 EST 2024